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The Justice of Kings:
Empire of the Wolf (Book 1)
Richard Swan
No man is above the law.
The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the imperial throne.
Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers and skill as a swordsman. In this he is aided by Helena Sedanka, his clerk and protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the empire.
When the pair investigate the murder of a provincial aristocrat, they unearth a conspiracy that stretches to the very top of imperial society. As the stakes rise and become ever more personal, Vonvalt must make a choice: will he abandon the laws he's sworn to uphold in order to protect the empire?
Introducing an unforgettable protagonist destined to become a fantasy icon, The Justice of Kings is an unmissable debut where action, intrigue and magic collide.
The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the imperial throne.
Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers and skill as a swordsman. In this he is aided by Helena Sedanka, his clerk and protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the empire.
When the pair investigate the murder of a provincial aristocrat, they unearth a conspiracy that stretches to the very top of imperial society. As the stakes rise and become ever more personal, Vonvalt must make a choice: will he abandon the laws he's sworn to uphold in order to protect the empire?
Introducing an unforgettable protagonist destined to become a fantasy icon, The Justice of Kings is an unmissable debut where action, intrigue and magic collide.
GENRE
Fantasy
UK PUBLICATION
February 2022
Fantasy
UK PUBLICATION
February 2022
Praise
"Richard Swan's expertise in the law and understanding of political complexities shine in this grim dark fantasy filled with just that. Prejudice, morality, and the law itself don't escape his keen examination and are laid bare to the reader within Empire of the Wolf."
R. R. Virdi
"An engrossing story blessed with elegant plotting, considered characters and visceral action, this is a broadsword-brandishing, magically powerful debut that knows what makes fantasy fun."
SciFi Now
"A gnarly, knotty and visceral fantasy that plays out in the manner of a historical whodunnit ... author Richard Swan's fictional universe arrived fully formed - internally consistent and utterly believable."
SFX
"A fascinating look at justice, vengeance and the law - great characters, compelling and wonderfully written. A brilliant debut and fantastic start to the series."
James Islington
"The Justice of Kings is utterly compelling, thoroughly engrossing and written with such skilful assurance I could barely put it down. The characters feel so real I swear I suffered every horror and hangover alongside them, and their world - though we just see the smallest portion of it here - feels vastly complex, poised on the brink of a disaster I can't wait to watch unfold!"
Nicholas Eames
"The Justice of Kings is a brilliant book 1, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system, and a story I just could not put down ... needs to be in every dark fantasy fan’s TBR pile for 2022."
Grimdark Magazine
"Murder mystery meets grimdark political fantasy in this first of a trilogy ... An intriguingly dark (and realistically depressing) deconstruction of a beloved mystery trope."
Kirkus Reviews
"Sherlock Holmes with swords and magic. Bloody marvellous and a real page turner."
Mike Shackle
"A Sherlock Holmes-esque tale, with eerie touches of the supernatural, and a thought-provoking reflection on justice, vengeance and morality."
The Fantasy Hive
"Absolutely galloped through [Richard Swan's] A Justice of Kings and have been thinking about it for a week. An invigorating mix of the visceral and cerebral, set in a complex, grimy world, it asks questions about the nature of law and justice which have never been more timely."
David Wragg
"The Justice of Kings is equal parts heroic fantasy and murder mystery. Sir Konrad Vonvalt’s fierce intellect and arcane powers will make you long to follow in his footsteps, but it’s his young clerk, Helena who brings heart and dazzle to the story. Together they’re a formidable team, and Richard Swan’s sophisticated take on the fantasy genre will leave readers hungry for more."
Sebastien de Castell
"A fantastic debut."
Peter McLean
"A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing."
RJ Barker
"Swan has built a dark and gritty world, filled it with beautifully written characters and lays out a master-crafted story to create an incredible book that you can't put down."
FanFiAddict
"A marvellously detailed world with an engrossing adventure from a unique perspective. I enjoyed it!"
KS Villoso
R. R. Virdi
"An engrossing story blessed with elegant plotting, considered characters and visceral action, this is a broadsword-brandishing, magically powerful debut that knows what makes fantasy fun."
SciFi Now
"A gnarly, knotty and visceral fantasy that plays out in the manner of a historical whodunnit ... author Richard Swan's fictional universe arrived fully formed - internally consistent and utterly believable."
SFX
"A fascinating look at justice, vengeance and the law - great characters, compelling and wonderfully written. A brilliant debut and fantastic start to the series."
James Islington
"The Justice of Kings is utterly compelling, thoroughly engrossing and written with such skilful assurance I could barely put it down. The characters feel so real I swear I suffered every horror and hangover alongside them, and their world - though we just see the smallest portion of it here - feels vastly complex, poised on the brink of a disaster I can't wait to watch unfold!"
Nicholas Eames
"The Justice of Kings is a brilliant book 1, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system, and a story I just could not put down ... needs to be in every dark fantasy fan’s TBR pile for 2022."
Grimdark Magazine
"Murder mystery meets grimdark political fantasy in this first of a trilogy ... An intriguingly dark (and realistically depressing) deconstruction of a beloved mystery trope."
Kirkus Reviews
"Sherlock Holmes with swords and magic. Bloody marvellous and a real page turner."
Mike Shackle
"A Sherlock Holmes-esque tale, with eerie touches of the supernatural, and a thought-provoking reflection on justice, vengeance and morality."
The Fantasy Hive
"Absolutely galloped through [Richard Swan's] A Justice of Kings and have been thinking about it for a week. An invigorating mix of the visceral and cerebral, set in a complex, grimy world, it asks questions about the nature of law and justice which have never been more timely."
David Wragg
"The Justice of Kings is equal parts heroic fantasy and murder mystery. Sir Konrad Vonvalt’s fierce intellect and arcane powers will make you long to follow in his footsteps, but it’s his young clerk, Helena who brings heart and dazzle to the story. Together they’re a formidable team, and Richard Swan’s sophisticated take on the fantasy genre will leave readers hungry for more."
Sebastien de Castell
"A fantastic debut."
Peter McLean
"A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing."
RJ Barker
"Swan has built a dark and gritty world, filled it with beautifully written characters and lays out a master-crafted story to create an incredible book that you can't put down."
FanFiAddict
"A marvellously detailed world with an engrossing adventure from a unique perspective. I enjoyed it!"
KS Villoso
Also by Richard Swan
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Rights Sales for THE JUSTICE OF KINGS
World Rights: Orbit, Little Brown
- Czech Republic: Host
- Germany: Piper
- Poland: MAG
- Russia: Eksmo
- Spain: Trini Vergara Ediciones